(a)A district judge, sheriff, deputy sheriff or
constableAn authorized law enforcement officer having notice or
knowledge of the unlawful, tumultuous, or riotous assemblage of threeten or more persons that creates a substantial risk of causing damage
to property or injury to persons within his or her jurisdiction,
among or as near as he or she can safely come to suchthe
rioters, shall command them in the name of the state of Vermont immediately and
peaceably to disperse. If, after suchthe command such,
the rioters do not disperse, suchthe officer or
magistrate and such other personpersons as he or
she commands to assist him or her shall apprehend and forthwith take
them before a district court.

(b)
For purposes of this section, “authorized law enforcement officer” means a
sheriff, a chief of police, the commissioner of public safety, or a designee.
The designee shall be a certified law enforcement officer whose authority is
granted or given by the sheriff, chief of police, or commissioner of public
safety, either through explicit order or department policy.

(c)
This section shall not be used to impede a citizen’s right to peaceably
assemble as guaranteed by the Constitution of the State of Vermont
and the United States Constitution.

Sec. 2. 13
V.S.A. § 902 is amended to read:

§ 902. RIOTERS REFUSING TO
DISPERSE

Persons
so unlawfully and riotously assembled who, after proclamation made, do not
immediately disperse, and persons unlawfully and riotously assembled to the
number of three or more who do an unlawful act against a man's person or
property or against the public interest, and persons present at the place of an
unlawful or riotous assemblage who, when commanded by a magistrate or officer
to assist him or to leave the place of such riotous assemblage, fails so to do,If a riot is declared by an authorized law
enforcement officer pursuant to section 901 of this title, a person who is
present at the location of the riot and who is engaged in the unlawful and
riotous conduct giving rise to the proclamation shall promptly leave the
location of the riot when requested to do so by a law enforcement officer. A
person who knowingly violates this section shall each be imprisoned
not more than six months or fined not more than $100.00, or both.